Region Reaffirms Support for Deeper Cooperation and EU Integration

Tirana – Leaders of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), meeting today at the SEECP Summit in Tirana, formally endorsed the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Annual Report 2024-2025 and welcomed the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2026-2028, underlining RCC’s central role in driving forward regional cooperation.

The Summit participants reiterated their strong support for the RCC’s work and acknowledged the organisation's pivotal role in fostering cooperation, resilience, and economic convergence across South East Europe. They emphasized SEECP’s political guidance to the RCC, encouraged the organisation’s continued engagement in facilitating regional programmes and projects, and recognised the RCC’s achievements in supporting progress towards a shared European future.

“Through trust, delivery, and results, we are showing that South East Europe is ready to contribute to the resilience and future of Europe. The RCC will continue to invest in what works – building a region that is smarter, more skilled, and sustainable. The region’s citizens are asking for delivery – they want practical change, stronger economies, more opportunities, and real progress towards Europe. The RCC is fully committed to helping this region meet those expectations,” said RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović.  

The RCC’s work was also welcomed at the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SEECP, held earlier today, where Ministers discussed the pathways to strengthening regional competitiveness and inclusive growth as part of EU integration efforts.

Key highlights of the past year, as presented in the RCC Annual Report, include the launch of a new Action Plan for the Common Regional Market 2025-2028, deepened financial integration with four economies joining SEPA, further steps on the Green Agenda and climate resilience, progress on human capital mobility and digital innovation, and up to a 99% drop in data roaming costs between the EU and the Western Balkans.

The new RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2026-2028 will drive resilience through transformation and development, integrating RCC’s key frameworks – the Common Regional Market, the SEE2030 Strategy, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The SEECP participants also reaffirmed the region’s commitment to advancing implementation of the SEE2030.

In a further sign of strengthened regional cooperation, the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office was today handed over to Sofia, which will lead the process for the coming year.

On the margins of the SEECP Summit in Tirana, RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović met with the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, and the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, to discuss the advancement of regional cooperation and the implementation of shared agendas aimed at strengthening connectivity, deepening economic integration, and ensuring long-term stability across South East Europe.